KUCHING: The Malay book publishing industry should promptly explore new areas such as science and technology to enhance the country’s book industry, according to Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir, a member of the board of directors of Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP).
He emphasised that this is a key challenge that the industry must overcome to remain dynamic and relevant.
Jeniri pointed out that the Malay book publishing industry is currently hindered by a slow exploration of new knowledge boundaries and issues.
He questioned the scarcity of Malay-language books on topics like the green economy, renewable energy, and artificial intelligence technology.
He stated, “I think not yet,” indicating a lack of such publications.
During his presentation titled “The World of Book Publishing” at the National Seminar on the Publication of Malay Books, Jeniri, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the New Sarawak Tribune and Suara Sarawak, highlighted other challenges. These include limited and fragmented national book markets, issues with marketing and distribution, and a lack of professionalism in editing, writing, and design.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim officiated at the seminar held in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (March 26).
He also expressed concern about society’s insufficient interest in reading, stating, “In today’s era, it is rare to see people reading four books a month or twelve books a year.”
Jeniri attributed these challenges to the influence of global digital platforms, particularly the widespread use of social media platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly known as Twitter).
He provided statistics on the staggering amount of messages sent, emails exchanged, and videos uploaded within a minute on these platforms worldwide.
Additionally, he highlighted the large user bases of popular social media platforms in Malaysia.
Addressing the need for revitalizing translations and the publication of foreign works, Jeniri stated, “The translation of foreign-authored books into Malay is also progressing slowly compared to the 1980s.”
He stressed the urgency of addressing this issue to revitalize the translation of the world’s best books, emphasizing the importance of foreign works in broadening local readers’ insights, enriching local libraries, and promoting cross-cultural dialogue.
Jeniri further mentioned the closure of several bookstores in Malaysia, including major ones like MPH, due to various challenges.
He expressed sadness over this development and discussed the impact of online sales strategies, which have led to a reduction in physical sales and a limited selection of available books.
The seminar, themed “Empowering Malay Book Publishing,” aims to enhance the industry’s standing both nationally and globally.
It provides a platform for DBP to identify challenges and propose solutions in the production of printed and digital materials in Malay.
